FREE ONLINE HEBREW CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS USING ZOOM

Do you want to read the Old Testament in Hebrew?

It is not difficult. All you need to learn is the Hebrew Alphabet which has only 22 consonants. Greek has 24 letters while English has 26!

After learning the alphabet, you need to learn the niqquod (or the Hebrew vowel system) which was developed by the Masoretic scholars around the ninth century AD.

Once you are able to read the syllables (made up of the consonants and the vowels), you should be on the path to reading the Hebrew Bible yourself!

To kickstart your learning, I have decided to do a three-lesson programme on Zoom. This is offered free-of-charge. To join, you have to register yourself on Zoom and download the App either on your computer or smart phone.

You can view the previous recording of the classes on Zoom. Click here to download the files on your PC.. Bear with me as I am still very new in using Zoom.

This is a form of support that I try to provide in addition to the book, "You can't read Hebrew? Let me prove you wrong!" Read comments about the book.

Date:                           Time:                       Lesson: 
30 Jan 2020 Thurs       9:00 - 9.40pm          Learning the Aleph-Beth
31 Jan 2020 Fri             9:00 - 9.40pm           Learning the Niqquod
1 Feb 2020 Sat             9:00 - 9.40pm          Learning to read the Syllables
                                                                              and Words

Check here for future dates of similar classes. There is nothing like being able to participate in the classes.

To Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/5041625369
or open the Zoom app and key in the Meeting ID: 504 162 5369

No password is created for you to join this session. Meeting will be for only 40 minutes as Zoom allows it for only 40 min.

Please check here for any change of time.





 

HEBREW WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS

Alongside with my latest book on Hebrew for beginners, I will put in efforts in 2020 to help more people to read the Bible in the orignal languages, targeting especially the young people. 

I believe God wants to raise a generation of believers who are able to read His Word in Hebrew (and Greek). 

Half-day or one full day workshops can be organised as long as you are able to bring together a group of 20-40 people. 

The sessions will conducted on a public holiday (especially when it falls on a weekday) or on a Saturday. 

Here, a group of seven ladies invited me to conduct a workshop for them in Kajang. They were all beginners in learning Hebrew. We had fun playing games as well to help them with the niqquods (Hebrew vowel system).

They were excited and after the session, they completed their homework. This is all part of the learning process.

After you have learnt the basic Hebrew, you can volunteer to teach Sunday School children in your church some very simple Hebrew words to whet their appetite. It is not impossible for kids to learn to read Hebrew when they are still young. Never underestimate their ability to learn. This is a good example:

Suggest that you charge each participant a certain amount but not more than RM40 in order to get their full commitment. With that, you only pay me RM20 for each copy of the Hebrew book which every participant will receive as part of the workshop. If they have already purchased the book, they can give it away to friends to encourage them to learn Hebrew. The rest of the money can go to your church ministry.

This workshop is designed as a crash course to build a foundation for you to be able to follow other Hebrew classes conducted by individuals or seminaries. If you are interested, please contact Stephen.Ng.EJ@gmail.com.

I am are available on the following public holidays  in 2020:

Sat    Feb 1 (Federal Territory Day)
Fri     May 1   (Labour Day)
Thurs May 7 (Wesak Day)
Mon   May 25 (Raya)

IN THE BEGINNING TIME HAD NOT EXISTED....

Gen. 1:1 בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים

 אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

John 1:1

Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος

  In (the) beginning was the Word.

It is interesting that the first word of the Bible is בראשימ (bere'shit) which means, "In beginning..." The definite article 'the' is absent in this word; otherwise, if it is there, it would have been 'bare'shit'. 

The absence of the definite article has significant meaning to the Jewish mind. It means that the story of creation in Genesis begins at no specific point in time. We call this in theology the 'eternity past'. Time had not been put into place until the first day of creation, when God defined evening and morning. 

Therefore, when John started his book with this verse, he wrote it with a Jewish mindset intentionally omitting the definite article 'the':

Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος

In beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1). 

It is done intentionally to show that he was referring to the 'eternity time' which was not confined to time.

FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO READ THE HEBREW BOOK

To most people, Hebrew looks intimidating. After crossing over the valley of intimidation, the author found Hebrew an easy language to learn. Within just four months, he was able to read the Hebrew Bible, after using some free online resources teaching the basic Hebrew language.

In this book, he not only explains why it is important to hear God’s heartbeat by reading the Bible in the original Hebrew language, but also shares passionately how you can learn the language that God chose to communicate His message to mankind. Written in a style that makes reading easy and fun, he outlines how any ordinary person can now learn to read God’s word in Hebrew.

Author: Stephen Ng is the author of a number of books, including the more recent ones, “Where is Pastor Raymond Koh?”, “Kajang Redemption”and“From a Pest to Pest Controller.” He loves the Hebrew language and within a short span of four months, he was able to read the Hebrew bible proving that Hebrew is not difficult after all.

In this book, he not only explains why it is important to hear God’s heartbeat by reading the Bible in the original Hebrew language, but also shares passionately how you can learn the language that God chose to communicate His message to mankind. Written in a style that makes reading easy and fun, he outlines how any ordinary person can now learn to read God’s word in Hebrew.

Author: Stephen Ng is the author of a number of books, including the more recent ones, “Where is Pastor Raymond Koh?”, “Kajang Redemption”and“From a Pest to Pest Controller.” He loves the Hebrew language and within a short span of four months, he was able to read the Hebrew bible proving that Hebrew is not difficult after all.

 

Feedback

"The book is a timely learning aid to Beginners of the Hebrew language.   I have purchased numerous books to learn this language during the past 18 months.   Stephen's book is a refreshing addition to the stock of currently available Hebrew learning aids.   His book is written in an user- friendly and systematic way which sustain interest and perseverance in learning.    He has included easily accessible links to interesting sites throughout the book to supplement the learning journey.  Thank you Stephen for your labor of love."
 - Michael Tang, Singapore

"I bought 10 copies of your book and gave away five copies to some staff and colleagues (at the seminary) and told them the passion of the author of this book in learning biblical languages." - Dr Philip Siew, Seminari Theoloji Malaysia.

"Your book is very helpful to prep before the class. It gives a good background and the tools to memorise some Hebrew alphabets. (STM Biblical Hebrew lecturer) Dr Siew's class reinforced the learning by letting us hear how they are pronounced and added further information. Overall it's went better than expected as I was quite overwhelmed just learning the alphabets."    - Yaw Kem Keong, Perth, Australia

"I have always wondered about learning the Hebrew language: Would it be easy or difficult? Can I cope with it? Even though I am just taking it as an Audit subject, but I still take it seriously. My perception of Hebrew changed after I saw your book being sold at the canteen. It looks like God is answering my prayers. Although I had not expressed all my concerns, He heard my prayers. God is so good. I bought only your book about Hebrew but not the other Hebrews books that were on sale because I feel it can help me better understand and boost my confidence in learning Hebrew. The book is an answered prayer. Thank God for it. Also, thank you Stephen. Your book came in very timely. Wow! God is so good!"  - Anna Binti Anyus, Student, Seminari Teoloji Malaysia


"Shalom Stephen

"I read your book as someone who has gone through basic Hebrew. The book provided me and my wife a quick revision and bring us to a new confidence level.

"We thought the book was clear and precise and helpful links to help us to reach other resources. This is very transparent of you." 

- Jonathan David Choong, Ambassadors' Central, Petaling Jaya.


Find out more about the book. To purchase a copy of the book, go to Canaanland HQ at  No. 23-25 Jalan PJU 1A/41B, Pusat Dagangan NZX, Ara Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya. Tel: +603-7885 0540/1/2 (3 lines) or order online. For bulk purchases, contact LearnHebrew5780@gmail.com.

GOD THE VICTORIOUS WARRIOR AND HIS BRIDE

יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛יִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ך גִּבּ֣וֹר יוֹשִׁ֑יעַ יָשִׂ֨ישׂ עָלַ֜יִךְ בְּשִׂמְחָ֗ה יַחֲרִישׁ֙ בְּאַ֣הֲבָת֔וֹ יָגִ֥יל עָלַ֖יִךְ בְּרִנָּֽה׃

We read in Zephaniah 3:17 that God is depicted as the גִּבּ֣וֹר יוֹשִׁ֑יעַ or the Victorious Warrior. Interestingly, this passage addresses Israel as a female entity when the pronominal suffixךְ is used in the word, אֱלֹהַ֛יִךְ which means, 'your God.' 

Again, the following words use the pronominal suffix ךְ , which clearly tells us the gender of the person being addressed to. She is a female person as contrast to a male person where the pronominal suffix ךָ would have been used. The idea of a female person addressed in this text is somehow lost when translated into English with the word, 'you.' 

בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ך which means 'in your midst'.

עָלַ֜יִךְ which means 'over you.' 

It is interesting that when Zephaniah depicts God as the Victorious Warrior, God becomes the Warrior who saves  (יוֹשִׁ֑יעַ) the Bride, His Church. 

Amen, come Lord Jesus our Victorious Warrior, we the Bride of Christ are awaiting You! 

HEBREW ALPHABET SONG by 8-year-old Alyson Ng

Amateurish Hebrew alphabet song composed by Alyson Ng (8 years old) based on the song, “Jesus loves the little children.”

אב and גד

הוזח and ט

י כandלמ

נ and סעפ

צקר  שׁשׂת

 
 Another Hebrew Alephbet song by Honey Tang 

     after she started learning the 22 consonants 
 
   

  ?Children in India also learning Hebrew. Can you pick up which letter of the Hebrew alphabet they left out

INTERESTING HEBREW INSCRIPTION FROM INDIA

This inscription is from Chennamangalam Synagogue in India. History tells us that in Kerala alone, there are at least eight known synagogues, even though most of them are no longer in existence. 

One of these synagogues belong to the White Jews of Cochin, while the other seven belonged to the Malabari (brown or black) Jews. 

The Jews arrived in Chendamangalam after the destruction of the second temple and the final desolation of Jerusalem by the Romans around AD 69-70. They founded a Jewish colony in Kerala.

Source: Israel Institute of Biblical Studies Posted by Sigal Zohar. 

OUR LORD, THE SUPREME COMMANDER

       It has never occured to me until I looked into the Hebrew text for the book of Haggai that the Lord of Sabbaoth
  צְבָא֖וֹת    יְהוָ֥ה   can 
be translated as the LORD of the Armies. In short, He is the Supreme Commander. The word  צְבָא֖וֹת (Sabbaoth) occurs 294 times in the Old Testament and they referred mainly to 'host, army, war, service'. The word is derived from the root word צָבָּא which simply means 'army'. Somehow, when this is translated as the 'LORD of Hosts', the meaning is slightly lost because for most people the word 'host' means 'a person who receives or entertains other people as guests.'

       Haggai was addressing a remnant who had returned from exile and began to settle down in their homeland. They knew what it was to live under the rule of great kings who had big armies under their command. Here, God revealed Himself through Haggai as the Lord of the Armies, reminding them of their exile. In any army, the Supreme Commander is very powerful. Every word from him is a command. The Jews understood this very well because they had lived under the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar and now under the Persian King Darius. Both were the Supreme Commanders of their own armies. 

        The returning Jews had settled down and it was easy for them to enter into their comfort zone and neglect the things of God. God now revealed to them as the Lord of the Armies. Haggai uses the words נְאֻם־יְהוָה  which is translated as 'The LORD declares.' The phrase appears mainly during the exilic and post-exilic period. This again reminds the Jews who was the authority behind the word of prophecy.

           Yet, we see the LORD of the Armies coming to His chosen people with a word of plea. Haggai used the words, שִׂימוּ־נָא which can be translated as 'Please consider....' Although we read in NASB that the LORD said, "Do consider," the word נָא is better translated as 'please' or 'now'. It is a form of persuasion, not a command. Here, we see that the Supreme Commander Himself coming down to our level to persuade us to consider first things first. The Jews who had returned from exile were more interested in settling down in their comfortable homes than to put the Temple first. While the Temple was described as חָרֵ֔ב (lying desolate), these people were living in the comfort of their own roofs.

         How true it is that while we bask ourselves with the luxuries of life, we become so comfortable that we forget the words of the Lord in Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." If we want to see God's blessings in our lives, we should put first things first. Our priorities must be right. For example, first thing in the morning when we wake up, do we spend our Quiet Time with God or do we waste it away with the other distractions. 

         We should seek after the things of the Lord if we want to see His blessings in our lives. The צְבָא֖וֹת   יְהוָ֥ה who is our Supreme Commander deserves our best and our first priority. 

END.